Shine & Dine

Whenever the sun pokes through the haze, these restaurant patios will leave you beaming

Rob Varela / Star staff Denamarie Monette of Ventura enjoys a glass of Merlot and a dish of southwestern calamari and the view in what she describes as "her spot" on the patio at Eric Ericcson's restaurant during happy hour Friday.

Photos by Lisa McKinnon / Star staff Free, freshly made potato chips, above, arrive almost as soon as you do at Jimmy’s Pub, an informal eatery on the grounds of the Ojai Valley Inn &amp; Spa. The $10 beer sampler is a deal, too: Pick five brews from a menu of eight, and the individual 2.5-ounce pours show up in an artfully arranged wrought-iron holder. At Wine Lovers in Ventura, below, free slices of pizza from one of the wood-burning stone fireplaces on the patio are part of the happy hour scene from 5-11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Made with vodka infused with locally grown strawberries, the Ric’s Specialty Martini is a $5 libation available from 3-6 p.m. daily at Ric’s Restaurant &amp; Sports Lounge in Camarillo.

Photos by Lisa McKinnon / Star staff Cabañas furnished with comfy sofas and plenty of tables await the happy hour crowd on a side patio at Safire American Bistro in Camarillo.

Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff A grilled calamari appetizer on a bed of greens with circled by potatoes is flanked by a cosmopolitan and a sour apple martini; all offered at half price on the summer happy hour menu at Mediterraneo at the Westlake Village Inn. The restaurant has expanded its patio overlooking a duck pond and golf course in Westlake Village.

Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff A cosmopolitan and a sour apple martini are part of the half price summer happy hour menu at Mediterraneo. The restaurant has expanded its patio overlooking a duck pond and golf course in Westlake Village.

Lisa McKinnon / Star staff At Wine Lovers in Ventura, free slices of pizza from one of the wood-burning stone fireplaces on the patio are part of the happy hour scene from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.